Heat exchanger with hinged fan assemblies

ABSTRACT

A coil heat exchanger includes a coil assembly having a series of elongated coil tubes mounted in an elongated, generally rectangular structure. Fans for drawing air across the coil assembly are provided as modular units that are mounted to the structure using hinges. The fans can be readily swung upwardly in the event of a need to access the coil assembly or replace a fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to heat exchangers, and, more particularly, to coil heat exchangers having hinged fan assemblies.

Typical coil heat exchangers are comprised of a coil assembly of a series of elongated coil tubes with one end connected to an inlet header and the other end connected to an outlet header. Such coil assembly can be formed in an elongated, generally rectangular array housed in an elongated, generally rectangular structure. Such structure is usually formed of sheet metal with appropriate supports. Air is blown or drawn across the coil assembly by fans integrally mounted in one side of the coil assembly. It is difficult to access the coil assembly due to the presence of such integral fans. It is also difficult to change out the fans in the event of a need to replace them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a coil heat exchanger with a coil assembly of a series of elongated coil tubes mounted in an elongated, generally rectangular structure. Fans for blowing or drawing air across the coil assembly are provided as modular units that are mounted to the structure using hinges. Such fans can be readily swung upwardly in the event of a need to access the coil assembly or to replace the fans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coil heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a hinge for a fan assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a coil heat exchanger 10 is shown as an elongated, generally rectangular structure. An elongated, generally rectangular base pan 12 is provided and is usually comprised of sheet metal. A plurality of coil circuits 14 is provided, with each coil circuit 14 usually comprised of metal tubing. Inlet header 16 and outlet header 18 are connected to opposite ends coil circuit 14 to enable a working fluid, such as water or a glycol based fluid, to be circulated through coil circuit 14.

An elongated, generally rectangular structure 20 is provided to house coil circuit 14. Structure 14 is usually comprised of sheet metal, with structural legs 13 being affixed near the bottom of structure 14 to support it. A roof section 22 covers the top of structure 20; roof section 22 again is usually comprised of sheet metal. Air inlet sections 21 are formed along one side of structure 20, with it being understood that similar air outlet sections are formed on the opposite side of structure 20.

Modular fan assembly 24 is a generally square structure, usually of sheet metal, that includes flush mounted fan 25. Hinges 37 are present at the top edge of modular fan assembly 24. Modular fan assembly 26 is a generally square structure, usually of sheet metal, that includes an extended mounted fan 27. Hinges 37 are present at the top edge of modular fan assembly 26. Modular fan assembly 28 is a generally square structure, usually of sheet metal, that includes an angle mounted fan 29. Hinges 39 are present at the top edge of modular fan assembly 28.

Any one of modular fan assemblies 24, 26, or 28 can be affixed to one of air inlet openings 21 on the side of structure 20. Referring to FIG. 2, such affixing is usually by the use of a hinge pin 41 to join hinge 35 on modular fan assembly 24 to hinge plate 43 on front face 23 of structure 20. The use of such a mounting arrangement allows the ready rotational lifting of modular fan assembly 24 for access to coil circuit 14 or the replacement of fan assembly 24. Similar arrangements can be utilized with hinges 37 on modular fan assembly 26 or hinges 39 on modular fan assembly 28.

It should be understood that the direction of fan rotation can be selected so that air inlet side 21 could alternately be the air outlet side. 

1. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of coil circuits each extending from an inlet header to an outlet header, each coil circuit comprised of elongated tubing, a structure supporting the coil circuits, the structure having an inlet face and an outlet face, a fan assembly mounted with a hinge assembly adjacent the inlet face such that air can be drawn by the fan assembly with the inlet face, across the coil circuit and out the outlet face, wherein the fan assembly can be rotated about the hinge assembly from contact with inlet face.
 2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the structure includes a top portion, bottom portion and a plurality of vertical supports extending vertically between the top portion and the bottom portion, and a portion of the hinge assembly is attached to the top portion.
 3. The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the fan assembly comprises a base support and a fan, with the fan mounted on the base support such that the base support has a generally flat edge, a portion of the hinge assembly being attached to the flat edge of the base support, the flat edge of the base support being positioned adjacent and attached to the bottom portion of the structure.
 4. The heat exchanger of claim 3 wherein the fan assembly includes an extending section between the flat edge of the base support and the fan such that the fan is spaced from the flat edge, and wherein the extending section is formed of a solid material.
 5. The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the extending section is formed of sheet metal,
 6. The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the extending section is of uniform dimension such that the fan is mounted in a plane perpendicular to the inlet face.
 7. The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the extending section includes a top section and a bottom section, and the top section is of a length greater than the length of the bottom section such that the fan is wanted at an angle to the inlet face.
 8. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of coil circuits each extending from an inlet header to an outlet header, each coil circuit comprised of elongated tubing, a structure supporting the coil circuits, the structure having an inlet face and an outlet face, a fan assembly mounted with a hinge assembly adjacent the outlet face such that air can be drawn by the fan assembly with the inlet face, across the coil circuit and out the outlet face, wherein the fan assembly can be rotated about the hinge assembly from contact with the inlet face.
 9. The heat exchanger of claim 8 wherein the structure includes a top portion, bottom portion and a plurality of vertical supports extending vertically between the top portion and the bottom portion, and a portion of the hinge assembly is attached to the top portion.
 10. The heat exchanger of claim 9 wherein the fan assembly comprises a base support and a fan, with the fan mounted on the base support such that the base support has a generally flat edge, a portion of the hinge assembly being attached to the flat edge of the base support, the flat edge of the base support being positioned adjacent and attached to the bottom portion of the structure.
 11. The heat exchanger of claim 10 wherein the fan assembly includes an extending section between the flat edge of the base support and the fan such that the fan is space from the flat edge, and wherein the extending section is formed of a solid material.
 12. The heat exchanger of claim 11 wherein the extending section is formed of sheet metal.
 13. The heat exchanger of claim 11 wherein the extending section is of uniform dimension such that the fan is mounted in a plane perpendicular to the outlet face.
 14. The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the extending section includes a top section and a bottom section, and the top section is of a length greater than tie length of the bottom section such that the fan is mounted at an angle to the outlet face. 